11 June 2008

Stories from 11 June 2008

Armenia: Geopolitics, Opposition Protests & War

The Armenaker Kamilion comments on the opinion of a senior radical opposition leader in Armenia that renewed fighting with Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh might be one way for the authorities in Yerevan to declare martial law and end opposition protests which are set to start again on 20 June. The...

Blogger witnesses whales beaching in Madagascar

  11 June 2008

The mass stranding of at least one hundred melon-headed whales were reported in the mangrove of Antsohihy Bay (Northwest region of Madagascar) in the first week of June. Harinjaka and the non-governmental organization Fanamby were among the first to report (fr) and publish photos (mg) of this ecological disaster. The...

Uganda: Media crackdown

  11 June 2008

Moses Paul writes about media crackdown in Uganda: “Government has set up a special ministerial taskforce in what appears another move by the state to muzzle the media. This is not the first time hardline elements in President Museveni’s government have mooted unconstitutional machinations to clamp down on the independent...

Zimbabwe: Operation pull down your satellite dish

  11 June 2008

The ruling party in Zimbabwe hates satellite dishes!:”The Zimbabwean government has announced the beginning of yet another operation designed to oppress the people of Zimbabwe. Under Operation Dzikisai Madhishi (Operation pull down your satellite dish) the regime is forcing Zimbabweans to pull down their home satellite dishes through which the...

Ethiopia: Ogaden, Ethiopia's Darfur?

  11 June 2008

Dr. Ethiopia blogs about Ethiopia's troubled Ogaden region: “Modern Ogaden is a place where its people are being used as target practice for Ethiopians soldiers. A place where journalists are scarce. Journalists, in the past, have been accused of aiding and abetting the enemy (The Ogaden people).”

Bahrain: Letter from Jail

Bahraini blogger Ali Abdulemam [Ar] has received a letter from jailed fellow blogger Abdulla Mohsen. Mohsen has been in prison since the end of last year – on charges which include “the theft of a weapon and burning a police jeep.”

Algeria: Tragic Attacks

“The tragic attacks that took place in Algiers this week were surely aimed at debasing the prestige of the Algerian government, which is preparing to receive Mediterranean representatives and which has won the favor of most Western (and eastern) governments in its battle with al-Qaeda,” writes Algerian blogger Nouri.

The myriad voices of Pakistani blogosphere

  11 June 2008

Pakistan's growing blogosphere presents a kaleidoscope of the complex, contradictory developments within the country. The country is in the grip of a major movement for upholding the rule of law. Some say it is the finest moment in our history while others term it as yet another agent of instability....

China: Hepatitis B Forum

  11 June 2008

Dupola introduces a Hepatitis B Forum for patients to share their experience and defend their rights. Unfortunately the forum has been blocked by the Great Fire Wall.

Madagascar: why is Africa deprived of the UEFA European Cup ?

  11 June 2008

While the football world is enjoying the UEFA European Football Championship, many countries in Africa are restricted to watching 8 tournament games. Jentilisa, blogging from Madagascar, explains that the number of games to be broadcasted was decided by AFNEX (African Network and News Exchange) who bought the rights to the...

Iraq: Secret Peace Deal

“A secret deal being negotiated in Baghdad would perpetuate the American military occupation of Iraq indefinitely, regardless of the outcome of the US presidential election in November,” concludes Iraqi blogger Abbas Hawazin.

Morocco: Resisting Daylight Savings

The modern concept of Daylight Savings Time was conceived by William Willett in 1905 and was first initiated by Germany in 1916. Most of the world does not participate in Daylight Savings Time, and until recently, Morocco was no exception. This year, however, the Moroccan government decided to re-introduce DST.